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Dubai To Musandam Peninsula Road Trip

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Dubai to Musandam peninsula road trip would be one of the most memorable trip from the most of amazing drives that you have in your entire life. Winter of the Dubai and cooler weather and the amazing lights of the UAE and Arabian Peninsula will make you crazy and make your trip more memorable. So stop thinking, get rid of your tough routing, and be ready to start your drive towards Musandam Peninsula.

Book this ride like the UAE (United Arab Emirates) locals who enjoy on the weekends and drive through the road and go towards Oman. Enjoy a Dubai to Musandam Peninsula road trip going through the most of the dramatic driving routes of Middle East that is also considered one of the most favorite road trips in the UAE.

WHY DO A DUBAI TO MUSANDAM PENINSULA ROAD TRIP?

Dubai is more than the sun destination including sand and shopping for those who are fed up of swimming sun rays. It is true the whole UAE is such an amazing country and neighboring Oman to enjoy the natural beauty and amazing scenes.

Other than the fake news, Dubai is not country but a city and city-state or city-emirate in reality. It is also true that some parts of the Dubai are dull, with a lots of flat miserable sand but there are also some areas that are really amazing, covered with waves of sand dunes in peach and apricot, and elevated Rocky Mountains with collapsing watchtowers and beautiful date-palm oases. And the more amazing with this is neighboring Oman.

The most amazing thing is that in just three hours you can have one of the Arabian Gulf most wonderful drives towards the Khasab Musandam peninsula that is an enclave of the Oman within the UAE. Here you can spend a weekend by enjoying cruising the fjords by sitting on the wooden dhows, snorkeling and swimming with dolphins and can enjoy some of the breathtaking views of the region.

FIRST STOP: SHARJAH, UAE

While travelling towards the Musandam peninsula your first stop would be Sharjah, UAE. As long as you will avoid the peak-hour of the Dubai when Dubai and Sharjah roads look like worst gridlock in the country, so it would be best for you stop here for a time and enjoy some of the beauties.

Sharjah looks like a scenic lake having lively dhow docks and amazing stores and it would be wonderful for you to stay and look around here. It is advised you to follow the Corniche Road towards the dhow docks where you can have the parking slot.

Take a short round towards the Arts Precinct and Heritage Precinct, both are spotted with old restored courtyard houses

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TO AJMAN, UM AL QUWAIN AND RAS AL KAIMAH, UAE

After enjoying a short stay in Sharjah now move towards the Musandam peninsula by following the Corniche Road. While crossing the Corniche you will get chance to see the neighboring Ajman and Arabian Gulf Street on the way. Although it is home of one of the most amazing beaches and beautiful waterfronts in the UAE but still there are much scenes or places to see in this sleepy town. There are many soft white sand and many date palms picnicking points which you will found during the journey.

For a successful journey to Musandam Peninsula do follow the signs of the emirates of Um Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. Um Al Quwain is famous for those visitors who are bird lovers and come here for the abundance of birdlife at Khor Beidah.

Now follow the signs to Ras Al Khaimah to continue your Dubai to Musandam road trip. Ras Al Khaimah has become one of the most interesting tourist destination in recent years. In the center of the Ras Al Khaimah you will get chance to find out a ramshackle old town that is spotted with simple tailor shops and small colorful market.

You will have short drive passing through the small communities of Rams, Ghalilah and Ash Asham to the border.

THE MUSANDAM PENINSULA, OMAN

If you had direct drive from the Dubai to Musandam then you will reach at the boarder approximately in two hours, but it also sometimes depends on the traffic. If you had stops on the way then this road trip can take three to four hours to reach you at the border.

While passing through the border of Musandam peninsula it depends on the staff at the immigration office how much time they will take, may be offices are closed for lunch or tea. But if you are open and you have your passports with some currency then you have a chance to be out of UAE and into Oman in a couple of minutes. To make the process fast you can get an Omani E-Visa in advance to get rid of all tensions.

As you cross the Musandam border your road trip will really get more exciting and amazing with a lot of natural scenes and beauties.

Tips to Lower Your Pricey Dental Care Cost

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Getting cosmetic dentistry and dental treatment in several parts of the world, specifically in wealthy countries of the developed world, can be extremely expensive, regardless of whether you have access to any form of dental coverage.
In a survey (1999-2004), it has been revealed by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that 3.75% of adults between the age of 20 and 64 have no remaining teeth. As of 2010, nearly 45 million Americans lacked dental insurance, according to the US federal agency CDC’s statistics.
Many middle-income and uninsured people avoid their dentist appointments due to high costs than pain. But delaying needed dental treatment or check up can put them at an increased risk of facing costlier and more extensive dental work in the long run. Understandably, the oral and dental problems can worsen an individual’s oral health if not attended to immediately.
If you are in need of any kind of dental treatment or surgery but are scared of the heavy dentist bill, by following some useful tips you can save money on your dental care.
Mentioned below are some useful tips to lower the costs of dental treatments for insured and uninsured alike.
Dental Tourism
Dental care could be highly cost prohibitive in several wealthy countries like US, Canada, Australia, the UK and other EU countries.
Compared to the US and European countries, all common dental makeover procedures including veneers, tooth colored fillings, bleaching as well as more complex treatments including orthodontic or surgical treatments like dental implant, bridges, crowns, sealants and tooth bonding can be found at surprisingly lower costs in developing and some newly industrialized countries like India, Thailand, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hungary and Belgium, due to the lower living costs and labor wages.
So, instead of delaying your medically necessary dental treatment you can look for inexpensive alternatives in any cheaper country of your choice.
Say No to Frequent X-rays
Your dentist might suggest dental x-ray during your first visit, a scheduled checkup, or a return for treatment. But the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that the frequency of trips to the dentist’s X-ray chair should be determined by the current condition of a patient’s dental health.
So, if you have good oral health, it is just not necessary to have dental x-rays taken every time you visit the dentist. Having teeth x-rayed less frequently can not only save you substantial amount of money but also keep you from potentially harmful radiation exposure from dental X-rays.
Use Negotiation
Another way to keep your dental treatment cost down is to talk to your dental surgeon about payment options during the initial consultation. After having clear understanding of what will and will not be included in the dentist bill you may ask for discount on the dental bill. Your dental care provider and facility may offer you a variety of payment options. Don’t be afraid of asking to pay your dentistry expenses on monthly or quarterly basis.
Barter
It may sound crazy, but you can get free dentistry through the bartering system. Patients with different skills and professional services like carpentry or web design can trade their services for the dental treatment. For example, one can create a Web site for your dentist or offer plumbing, mechanic or any other service in exchange to the dental care costs.
Seek Out Dentistry in a Dental School
To super-size your dental care savings, consider having your dental work done at a dental school, where the dental procedures will be performed by students under the supervision of the qualified and skilled dentists at a fraction of what you would pay in a private care center.
Brush and Floss Everyday
Most importantly, if you really want to save money you need to take very good care of your oral health. Brush your teeth twice a day or after every meal and floss at least once daily to ward off your risk of oral problems. Cut down on your sugary intake in order to reduce your dental problems, thus your time in the dentist’s chair.

Professional Travel Agent – 8 Benefits of Utilizing Their Knowledge

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Travel Agents have been helping travelers plan their vacations and trips for decades. The brick and mortar agencies are still going strong and many times beating the prices of online competition.
Now that almost every home in America has a computer and internet access, many people are trying to do it all by themselves when planning a vacation thinking they’ll get the best deal. For an international trip, the typical person will spend many, many valuable hours online doing research and making reservations if they do it alone. Why not just go to a Travel Agent? Contacting a knowledgeable individual can save you time and money. That’s what they are for.
Here are some of the many benefits of using a Professional Travel Agent.
Your time is valuable. Instead of spending your precious time searching the internet, going from website to website, comparing prices, itineraries, hotels and destinations, you can make just one call and have a Travel Agent do all the planning.
Service. There is something to be said for good, old-fashioned, person to person service. This is an attribute you will not experience with an online booking engine. Travel Agents are happy to help you with your travel arrangements including inception of ideas and thorough planning. Plus they are available for the duration of your trip, upon your arrival home and for all future travel. The personalized service you receive provides peace-of-mind whether you purchase an air ticket or an entire travel package. A travel agent is ready to answer any and all questions.
Knowledge. Travel Agents have the most up-to-date information about specials, promotions and rates. Because they are the professionals in the industry, they are notified first of all current special rates and promotions stemming from airlines to tour companies to hotel deals. Many agencies who have weathered years of ups and downs in the travel industry have also built excellent relationships along the way. More times than not, they can provide better rates than what can be found online due to wholesale status and working with airline consolidators.
Specialized. More and more Travel Agents are becoming specialized in a specific geographic region or type of travel through study and hands on travel experience. This means that if you are traveling to Australia, for example, and want assistance from someone who really knows the country by the best places to visit, climate, exchange rates, cuisine, clothing to pack and the inside scoop to the best deals, utilizing a Travel Agent is a great resource. They often have personal travel experience and the experience of all their clients who have booked their trips with them. Plus the accumulative travel knowledge of their fellow agents giving you real information about how a hotel may suit your needs or a great tour guide that would jive with your travel style. It’s specialty information only a real, live human can provide when you are booking your trip.
One-Stop Shopping. With a Travel Agent you can book all your reservations and services in one place. Travel Agents can book everything from airfare to car rentals, to tours and show tickets. This also means you only have to give your personal information, like credit card details to one business.
Someone to call in case of an emergency. If you should have some type of a glitch or emergency while abroad, trying to get through to an actual person at an airline or online agency can be practically impossible and completely time consuming. It can be reassuring knowing that you have someone you can call in case of an emergency.
Unique Travel Itineraries. Travel Agents can help put together a trip and itinerary based on your interests. Tell a Travel Agent what you like to do during vacation, how active you want to be and your budget, and she will give you suggestions based on that information. This usually results in a more enjoyable vacation developed just for you instead of following an itinerary suggested by a friend or family. Just because your friend enjoyed a specific tour doesn’t necessarily mean that you will.
First Hand Hotel Information. Most Travel Agents have up-to-date information on hotels that are under construction or being refurbished. You do not want to arrive at your hotel, only to find that the reason why you got such a great deal is because they are in the middle of construction on the pool.
To book your international vacation of a lifetime, contact a Travel Agent today, or visit us on the web.

Prevent Teen Drug Abuse Using Drug Testing Kits at Home

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Teen drug abuse became a serious health problem in United States. It is hurting the healthcare system, burdening the economy, and causing millions of deaths every year. Of the many causes that promote drug abuse among teens, lack of parental supervision is a major one. Teens should be guarded properly by their parents as they are still immature.
Since, early intervention leads to effective prevention of this unhealthy habit, parents should identify drug abusing habits in teens and take preventive measures. Parents can take help of home drug testing kits which are effective and easy to use.
In this article, we will discuss about teens and their vulnerability to drug abuse; how to identify teen drug abuse and how important are drug testing programs at home to prevent teen drug abuse.
Teens – vulnerable to drugs abuse: Many scientific studies have already proved that teenagers are more prone to risk taking and are vulnerable to drug abuse when compared to adults. This typical behavior of teens during adolescence is because of the major changes in parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, planning, organization, and emotions. Since teen brains are not yet fully developed, they cannot take proper decisions and fall victims to unhealthy habits like drug and alcohol abuse.
Signs and symptoms of drug abuse: The primary step towards prevention of drug abuse in teens is to identify their unhealthy habits. Prominent changes, both in their behavior and in physical appearance can be noticed even at the early stages of abuse. Following are the warning signs:
Physical and emotional changes:
• Red eyes
• Finding difficulty to speak
• Sudden fall or rise in weight
• Lack of hygiene and showing less interest in personal grooming
• Aggression and arrogance
• Depression and irritation
Social and behavioral changes:
• Dissociation from old friends and acquiring new social group
• Sudden anger or depression
• Poor attendance and academics at school
• Spending time lonely
• Abnormal odor in breath or clothing
• Pipes, needles and other suspicious substances in their room
Importance of home drug test kits: The moment you see the signs that indicate drug abuse in your teen, it is the time to confirm drug abusing habits using reliable methods. They are useful devices for the parents to confirm these unhealthy habits in teens. They are simple, easy to use, provide instant and accurate results, cost-effective and above all ensure privacy. Some multi-panel drug testing kits can detect multiple drugs of abuse at a shot.
Best drug test methods to implement: When it comes to home drug testing, urine and saliva tests are considered to be the best methods. There are two other methods – blood and hair tests also, but they need special devices and expert supervision, hence are not recommended for home testing.
Urine test can detect the drugs in your teen’s system up to three days after use. If you believe that your teen has taken drugs during the last few days, then this method is effective in offering accurate results. However, it is necessary to check that your teen is not providing fake urine sample which can lead to false results.
Saliva drug testing is an ideal drug test if you suspect that your teen abused drugs on that particular day. These kits can detect drug use up to 48 hours.
Need for random drug testing: If you are conducting drug tests on your teens at regular intervals, following a regular pattern, your teen may notice the pattern and either try to manipulate the sample before the test or stop abusing drugs few days before the test. Hence, practicing random drug tests is always an ideal way to identify the drug use which effectively helps in detecting the drug abuse among your teens. Random testing makes teens say ‘NO’ to drugs as they know that you can conduct drug testing any time at home.
Home drug testing kits can be considered as effective solutions in controlling and preventing drug abuse in your teens. So, make sure that you have some of them at home to test your teen to help him stay away from drugs.

Different Fashion Styles For a New Fashion Statement

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Many people today believe that their clothing really speaks out what their beliefs and opinions are. Like the beliefs and opinions of people, fashion is also constantly changing and varying. All people have their own way of expressing themselves. It could be in opinions, beliefs, or even through the clothes that they are wearing.
There are a number of kinds of fashion styles that people are using. It could be Modern, Classic, Contemporary, Gothic, Tacky, and Old-fashioned. These styles are just revolving and actually get better as time goes on. So, what is the best style for you? Through the combination of different styles, you can assure that you can transform a new style that would really help you voice out your beliefs and opinions.
Everything that you need to make your own fashion statement is right there on your closet. Just make sure to blend the different kinds of styles and mix it with a bit of creativity. Whatever fashion statement you would like to establish, blending the kinds of styles is the best answer.
Many women all over the world today are discovering the benefits of blending the kinds of fashion styles. From casual to formal, rustic to elegant, contemporary to modern, style blending could really help in making a new and unique fashion statement.
So, what are you waiting for? Try to blend fashion styles right now! Get out of those outdated ones. It is just as simple as this: blend the different styles, be creative, and get noticed!

Law Enforcement Degree – Why Going Online is Becoming SO Popular

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Are you considering a law enforcement degree? Are you interested in becoming:
o Police officer
o Detective
o FBI Agent
o DEA Agent
o U.S. Marshal
o Department of Homeland security officer
o U.S. Secret Service agent
If any of these law enforcement careers seem interesting and sound like something you would like to pursue, consider a law enforcement degree as this will lead you one step closer to your perfect career.
Law Enforcement Degree Programs – What are they like?
As our world becomes more complex and technically advance, so is the demand on more highly trained individuals. As in any other career, law enforcement careers today require more and more education training from prospective applicants.
Most positions within this field require an associate’s degree, bachelor’s or even master’s degree, usually in criminal justice. Not only will a higher level of education, such as a bachelor, masters or doctorate degree, lead to greater salary but also to more job opportunities and career advancement choices.
Law enforcement degree programs will train you for a wide spectrum of skills, allowing for a wide range of career options. You will learn about the court and judicial system, police procedures and policies, prison systems, rehabilitation and control of prisoners.
Law Enforcement Courses/Curriculum
Aside from the study of law and the legal system, courses focus on accounting, business finance, computer science as well as physical education to promote fitness and performance on the job. Foreign language fluency is important for federal employment.
In a law enforcement training program you will be exposed to courses in criminal justice, police administration, police management, police organization, criminal law, criminal procedures, crime scene investigation, interviewing and interrogation, criminal counseling, juvenile delinquency, pubic safety – to name a few.
As you can see from the long list of courses offered, law enforcement is becoming a popular and fast growing field. As a result, colleges and universities offering training in this area are able to provide many courses to choose from. By exploring all your options within this degree program, you can pinpoint your strengths, areas of interest and design your ideal future career. You can do so much with a law enforcement degree – make sure you find out what works best for YOU.
Online Law Enforcement Degree Programs
Online education is on the raise so it’s not surprising that most online colleges and universities also offer law enforcement training. Online degree programs give you the freedom from attending regularly scheduled classes and allow you to go to school while working full time and managing a family. They are becoming very popular as they are a way to advance your career while keeping your current job. Many employers will pay their employees to go back to school, online.
There are so many online schools offering law enforcement online degree programs, how are you to choose one? The best approach is to select a few, request information and research, read about their programs and courses offered as well as class/degree requirements. Some schools offer complete online degree programs, others require some in class time. Find out all the details before signing on to a program, be it an online associate, bachelor or online master degree law enforcement program. When researching schools, in addition to program details, try to find out faculty qualifications as well as the percentage of students that graduate and find jobs upon graduation.
Law Enforcement Careers
The primary goal of all law enforcement professionals is to protect individuals within their jurisdiction. With this career you could work as a state or federal agent, police officers, inspector, sheriff or detective. There are many opportunities for specialization within this field and the list of job titles is extensive.
Police officers are usually employed at a local level and perform task such as traffic control, regular patrols, investigation of theft and assault as well as community policing.
Detectives and Investigators specialize in one area of crime and are assigned cases within that area. Their primary role is to collect evidence, conduct interviews, and examine records all leading to crime solution, arrest and prosecution.
Federal agents are employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and perform investigations of all types of crimes. The list of task and job opportunities is extensive. Spend some time reading and researching all the opportunities and educational requirements before choosing an area to specialize in within the law enforcement filed.

Fashion Style Mistakes to Avoid

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Not everyone has a highly-developed fashion style and fashion sense like the great fashion designers. But even great designers make fashion bombs sometimes. Although one cannot always be sure if his or her fashion is perfect or not, there are a few ground rules that one can follow in order to at least give him or her a chance to make a positive fashion statement.
Following trends and fashion fads blindly is something that you should avoid at all costs. While it’s true that it seems everyone around you might be wearing it, you have to be careful that you don’t get pulled into the frenzy if that style of fashion does not suit you. A lot of times, fashion fads don’t last long and when they end, you might find yourself with a heap of clothes that you won’t be able to wear ever again.
Accessorizing is good, but too much of it would be a fashion no-no. It’s only fine to wear ten bracelets and five necklaces and earrings and other bling you can find when you’re six years old and playing dress-up. When you’re grown up, it just looks ridiculous. One can show off whatever jewelries or accessories you have but not all at the same time. Remember there are other parties or social occasions where you can show of your other stuff. Add a little class to your fashion style by going with the “less is more” motto when it comes to accessories.
Don’t buy things just because they are on sale. Similar to following fashion fads blindly, buying just because an item is on sale is just a waste of money. Make sure that when you buy with your hard-earned money, it would be something that you can use and that it will last. Otherwise, sale or not, it’s better to clench your teeth and just walk away.
Wearing clothes that don’t fit you is also a big mistake. First of all, ill-fitting clothes are not very comfortable to wear. And clothes that are too big or too small will do nothing for your figure. It will just make your wardrobe a fashion disaster. Do yourself a favor, if your clothes don’t fit you, give them away. You’ll not only help others, but you’ll also be helping yourself.
In the end, it doesn’t take much brain power to know the right fashion style for you. It’s all about having control over yourself, and knowing the right balance of things. Keep in mind that too much of anything is never good.

Fashion at the Weekends

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My weekends tend to be split into three main fashion categories, with a different outfit for each one. Friday is the girls night and all that goes with it, Saturday is dinner with my man at a sophisticated restaurant and Sunday tends to be country walks with the dogs and family lunch.
The best part of a night out for my girlfriends and I is the preparation. Pampering, preening and plucking. We tend to leave the office early and start getting ready from 4pm onwards. Friday nights have been the girls nights for over ten years and the women’s fashions and trends have changed so much in that time. But it’s not just about what was in fashion that has changed but our personal style choices. First of all, ten tears ago we were still students. We were on a budget and Primark was only just on the cusp of being the icon it is today. My fashion style was probably much more creative than it is today because I couldn’t afford to just walk into a boutique and buy exactly what I wanted. I hunted charity shops, did clothes exchanges with my friends and once we even bought a sewing machine. However, it spent more time collecting dust than sewing. Our style at that time was very much “less is more”. Short skirts, low tops, sleeveless, backless dresses and all this in the middle of January.
These days I like to think we are a little more sophisticated in our fashion choices. There is big trend towards 1940s fashion at the moment and this suits my friends and I just fine. The hair is glamorous, the make up powerful and the preparation takes forever. There is something so lovely about getting dressed up for a night out with your girlfriends. I think it’s the child in you that still likes to play dressing up.
After a night dancing with the girls on a Friday, I usually need a good detox in the gym on Saturday before my big night out with my gorgeous man.I like to dress in total contrast on a Saturday night. I wear black black black. I like to create a look that is sultry and mysterious. I have even invested in a wig. I love how different it makes me feel.
Finally it comes to Sunday and I am more than happy to take it slow. I embrace the country life on a Sunday. But not too much, I still want to look fashion savvy and not like a complete country bumpkin. I love the fact that the Barbour style jacket is so current. The great news is that it is available in a wide range of colors, navy, red, camel, racing green and for a wide range of budgets. I own two such jackets. One is quilted and when paired with a Hermes type scarf ( I have not invested in an original as there are so many similar ones available I thought it would be more cost effective) I feel ever so regal and start looking for my corgi. The other jacket is more military style and I can even get away with it in the city on a rainy day. Finally I opt for military style boots or flat grey brogues. The perfect chic country Sunday.

Bags – Fashion Style

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Bags, bags and more bags! Whether you’re going out to the nearest grocery store or for a formal evening out, a bag is a must for any lady. This season, bags in different shapes and sizes are ‘in’, but it is important to realize that if the most fashionable bag is worn on the wrong occasion and most importantly with the wrong type of outfit it will only make you look silly. Small clutch bags give an elegant and chic look and are a must for a formal evening out or a lunch with friends. The small clutch bag gives a graceful and chic poise to the lady holding the bag and looks awesome with long shirts and caprice. Small pouch bags also look great, as they are no hassle to carry and comfortable that makes them all the more better for formal occasions. Since saris are also favorite outfits on formal evenings and clutch bags, pouches are a must for an “all-out elegant look.”
If you are all for the glamorous and glitzy look then clutch bags with stones and embroidery will do the job for you. So for a classy touch go for petit bags and purses to complete your look. The huge metallic bags are the most popular bags this season and are definitely en vogue! They were in vogue last winter’s as well but their fashion has not worn out. In fact, huge bags are all the more in fashion this summer. They look good with any casual outfit like a Tee-shirt dress and jeans, A-line frock dresses or your casual day to day wear. These bags are useful for those who go to college, university or work as they are spacious enough to carry your make up kit and you can fit in just about anything – maybe even your pet Chihuahua! They are also lifesavers for moms with infants as the mother can not only keep her make-up and accessories but also her babies ‘accessories’. You have a lot of choice in these bags, as they are available in metallic colors as well as in any other colors with or without artificial stones, chains and buckles. Just be careful that you don’t buy an over-accessorized bag because it just ends up looking very cheap. The best thing about these bags is that they look good on just about anyone. However, keep the bags large enough – do not go for the ultimately over-size bags that will surpass your outfit and undermine your personality. This can be a total disaster as it will make you look like a huge metallic piece of leather and you don’t want that!
A much better choice for a bag to take on a semi-formal GT would be the bamboo bags. These bags can be found in almost any color but personally one finds them better in natural earthy ones like beige, brown or black. Stylized with diamantes, stones, sequins, and beads these bags come in different designs. Bamboo bags look casual yet give a graceful feel to the over-all look. Worn with a semi-formal clothes and stilettos, it definitely looks chic.
Well, that’s just about it for the bags in vogue this summer but one thing you need to be really careful about are the fake designer bags that can be found very easily these! Please do not buy bags that have Gucci and Armani drooling over them. Besides people have become so aware of fashion these days, you can tell an original from a fake. So to save yourself from embarrassment stay away from fake designer bags!

What Do Apartments in Dallas Check For When They Run Your Application?

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Apartments in each state and, even in each city within the same state, have their own different qualification procedures when reviewing the application of a potential new renter. Take the state of Texas as an example. The largest metropolitan areas in this state with the highest concentration of apartment communities are Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. There are thousands of various apartment complexes in each of these cities. You would think they would have the same requirements for approval when running an Application for a new renter since they are all located within the same state of Texas. However, Dallas has very unique requirements that are different from Houston and San Antonio as well as different from other cities and other states.
Apartments in the illustrious city of Dallas check four (4) major areas in order to approve your Application: criminal background, income/job, rental history, and credit. It is the combination of these specific 4 areas that make Dallas requirements unique as a city, as well as how lenient or strict they are within each of the 4 areas.
For instance, In Houston, located only 239 miles away from Dallas, there are some apartments that consider your debt and your debt to income ratios as well as Social Security fraud history, when checking your Application. These are items that are never checked by Dallas apartments when they run your Application. Also, Dallas is more lenient than Houston when doing a criminal background check when it comes to fraud and financial crimes. Several apartments in Dallas will still work with you if you have a misdemeanor or felony in those categories, whereas in Houston these two areas are almost always causes for denial of your application.
As another example of how unique Dallas qualification requirements are, consider how Dallas differs from another major city, San Antonio. In the city of Dallas, apartments do not check how long you have worked at a particular job. The length of your employment history is not a consideration. As long as you HAVE employment and income that can be verified, most apartments will approve your application. In fact, you can have a brand new job, or even be transferring here to Dallas from another location, and all you need is a “Hire Letter” from the new employee showing your start date and your rate of pay. This is different from San Antonio. Most apartments in San Antonio want to see at least 6 months of employment history.
So, as you can see, Dallas has unique requirements that they check for when running an apartment application. Here are the specific requirements that Dallas apartments look for in more detail:
1. The first area that the best Apartments in Dallas check is your income qualifications. They almost always require that you earn three (3) times whatever your rent amount is. Other cities and states may require that you earn 2.5 times, or even 3.5 times the rent amount, but almost all properties across the board in Dallas check to see that you earn 3 times minimum. For example, if your rent is $1000, they want to see proof that you earn at least $3000 a month. You can provide this proof of income in the form of paycheck stubs. If you are self employed, you can provide bank statements and the most recent year’s tax statements. If you are new moving into the Dallas area and have been transferred from your job, or you are just starting a brand new job, you can provide a letter from your employer on company letterhead from the HR department or the hiring manager. The letter should state that you are being relocated and what your income will be.
Many cities, such as Houston and San Antonio, check to see how long you have worked for a particular employer, and therefore will not accept a “New Hire Letter”. Dallas does not do this. As long as you have the Hire Letter, you can be accepted with a brand new job. More than likely, however, the new apartments will call the company and ask for verbal verification of the letter, and it must be signed by someone with authority, such as the Hiring Manager. They may or may not ask for the letter to be notarized.
What kind of income will the Dallas apartments consider? In addition to income from a business you own or from employment, you can also include funds that you receive as child support, disability, retirement, investments, etc. Any and all income that is legal and is provable will be considered.
What if you are retired and do not have income? Some areas would require you to move to a retirement community or senior facility. But most apartments in Dallas are flexible in this regard. They will just require a copy of your bank statements to verify that you have enough funds to cover the cost of the rent for each month of the lease. For example, if your rent is $1000 a month, and you sign a 12 month lease, they will check to see if you at least have $12,000 in savings. They will also consider any Social Security money that you receive as monthly income. And if all else fails, they will accept a co-signer. Because Dallas is flexible in working with retired individuals, many enjoy the freedom and dignity of renting their own apartment without having to move into a retirement home for seniors. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that Money Magazine voted Dallas as one of the best places to retire in 2006 and 2007.
2. The second area that the best apartments in Dallas always check is your past rental history. They want to know if you have ever broken a lease or been evicted. They will check with the current apartments you are living in now, even if they are in another state, to verify that you are leaving on good terms. It may be tempting to try to “stretch the truth” and hide the fact that you owe past apartments money, but resist the urge. The credit check that they pull on you will reveal any debts that you owe to past properties. In Dallas, any past debts to properties that are still unpaid, even if they are many years ago, will mean an automatic denial if it shows up on your credit. The Manager does not have control over making the final decision in this regard. This is because most apartments in Dallas are managed by large Property Management Companies who make all the corporate decisions for their properties. They set the rules, and the rule is always to check for any property debts and automatically deny an application if such a debt appears. Other cities with a higher percentage of privately owned small apartment communities, such as San Antonio or Houston, may be more flexible in this regard since they maintain more control over who they accept or deny and the Manager may be allowed to make the final ruling.
What can you do if you do owe a past apartment community and you are searching for an apartment in the Dallas area? Well, it all depends upon whether or not it shows up on your credit report. If you aren’t sure if it shows up on your credit, you might first pull your own free credit report and look to see if it is there. Make sure to pull the credit from all three reporting agencies since you aren’t sure which one the apartments will use. If the incident is mentioned nowhere on your credit, then you may choose not to bring up the past, especially if you have had good rental history SINCE that occurrence. If it does show up on your credit, then you will not get approved at any apartment complex in Dallas. Your only option is to go back to that prior property that you owe funds to and pay them off. Be sure to receive a receipt or letter that shows your debt is paid in full so you can present this letter to the new Dallas apartments. Even with the receipt or letter, not every property in Dallas will work with you. A skilled Dallas Apartment Locator will be of great assistance in guiding you to the properties that are a little more lenient in this regard.
3. The third area that the Dallas Best Apartments check is your credit. As we mentioned above, they are mainly looking to see if you owe any past apartments money. However, Dallas is unique because they also will check to see if you owe past utility bills, mainly the electric company. The reason they check this is because you will not be able to turn on your electricity at the new apartment if you still owe the utility company money. So you will have to pay off any debts to the electric company prior to filling out the apartment application. In fact, some Dallas apartments even require you to call the power company and schedule the date for them to turn on the electricity to your new apartment, and get a confirmation number to prove it is scheduled, before they will give the final approval to your Application. Apartments in other cities are not as strict in this area as Dallas.
Another item they will look for on your credit, besides just past apartment debts and utility debts are housing debts. Perhaps you use to own your own home, and now you are moving into an apartment. The apartments will check to see your payment history with the mortgage company and will look for property debts and foreclosures. If a foreclosure shows up, then they may not be able to work with you. It depends on how many years ago the incident happened. An Apartment Locator familiar with Dallas apartments will be in the best position to assist you.
4. The last area that apartments in Dallas always check is your criminal background. Although most cities and states run background checks on applicants, each city is different in how they react to the findings. Dallas apartments run a background check that goes back indefinitely. It will show any past misdemeanors or felonies that you have ever received in your entire life. It doesn’t matter if the occurrence happened 30 years ago. It will still show up. Most apartments in Dallas automatically will decline your application if any felony shows up. However, they can be flexible in a few areas where other cities are not.
For example, if the felony or misdemeanor is for something that does not involve harm to another human and does not involve theft, approximately 10% of the Dallas apartments will work with you. Some examples of misdemeanors or felonies that SOME properties may be more flexible with are: check writing fraud, drinking while driving, possession of marijuana, etc. Other cities are not flexible enough to consider any exceptions and will deny an application for any crime, regardless of its nature.
If you have a non-violent glitch on your background criminal record, you need a qualified Apartment Locator in Dallas who has knowledge of second chance properties to assist you in finding the 10% who might work with your situation. If your particular offense is not one that any apartment property in Dallas will accept, then the Locator will let you know. In that case, your best bet is to find a privately owned house that is for rent by the owner. These can be found in the newspaper. Do not apply for a rent house that is represented by a Real Estate Agent, or they will have the same background check that the apartments have, and you will run into the same problem. Only rent houses that are for lease by the owner offer more flexibility.